Towing-machine.



No. 788,190. PATENTED A-PR. 25, 1905.

, E. DALGLEISH.

TOWING MACHINE. 'APPLIQATION FILED 00T. e. 1904.

4 BHEETSf-SHEBT l.

w/NEssEs.: /N VENTO/ ATTORNEYS,

No. 788,190. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

v v E. DALGLEISH.

TOWING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIONIILED OG-T. 6. 1904.

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PATENTE!) APR. 25, 1905.

l E. DALGLEISH. TOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 6 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/NvENToH 6M 5.)/ I Wwm ATTORNEYS.

No. r/99,190. PATENTED J1111.25, 1905. E. 11010101911. 10111119011110111110.

APPLICATION HLED 0013.0. 1904.

1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

UNITEDi STATES Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND DALGLEISH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHASE MACHINECOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TowlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters laatent No. 788,190, dated .April25, 1905.

Application filed October 6, 1904. Serial No. 227,508.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND DALeLEIsH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTowing-Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in 1o the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steam-balancedtowing-machines, and especiall y to improvements in the automaticmechanism for operating the valve which controls the iiow of steamthrough the feed-pipe to the engine of a towing-machine. Intowingmachines of this type as now constructed a throttle-valve isarranged in the feed-pipe, so

zo that the throttle can be opened or closed accordingly as the edect ofthe winds or waves tend to increase or decrease the usual load on thetow-line. In order that said valve may be automatically operated, it isconnected with 2 5 the drum which carries the tow-line by means ofvalve-controlling mechanism, and the arrangement is such that the valvein its usual working position will be partly open and, preferably, inits middle position, so as to 3o admit sufficient steam to thetowing-machine to maintain a predetermined pressure in the cylinders ofthe engine approximately equal to the usual load on the tow-line for theparticular tow, and as long as the load remains constant both said valveand said drum will remain stationary; but if the usual load is increasedor decreased beyond the predetermined pressure in the cylinders of thetowingmachine said drum will rotate either to pay 4o out 'or take in thetow-line, and duringa predetermined number of such rotations in eitherdirection said drumlwill actuate the valve-4 controlling mechanism, soas to either open A or close said valve. When the drum is standing stilland when it is rotating the predetermined number of times in eitherdirection, the strain on the tow-line may be termed normaL althoughvarying from the mean to the eX- treme normal. Means is provided fordisenunder the abnormal strain.

gaging the drum from the valve-controlling 5C mechanism as soon as thedrum has rotated the predetermined number of times either to close oropen the valve. Therefore if the conditions become abnormal-that is, ifthe -strain becomes greatly in excess of the steampower at the source ofsupply, which might be caused by the tow running aground, or if thestrain ceases to exist at all, which might result from the tow-linebreaking-the drum can rotate indefinitely until normal conditions arerestored. Now it has been found in practice that abnormal conditionsgenerally terminate suddenly-as, for instance, when the tow releasesitself after having run aground. The drum therefore immediately reversesand begins to take in the line which was paid out .Now in case the drumwas rotated many times after being disengaged from the valve mechanismit will have to rotate anequal number of times in the reverse directionbefore it again engages with the valve mechanism; but as the valve waswide open when the drum was disengaged from the valve mechanism the fullpower of the towing-engine will be winding in the line with the minimumload thereon, and before the drum again engages with the valve mechanismto close the valve the engine will be racing to such an extent that itfrequently causes serious injury to the whole machine.

bly invention, therefore, consists in providing, in combination with amachine of this character having valve-controlling mechanism operativelyconnected with the drum andarranged to control the steam-supply whilethe 8 5 cable-drum is being rotated a predetermined number of times ineither direction and means for disengaging the drum from thevalve-controlling mechanism as soon as the rotations of the drum exceedthe predetermined number of rotations, of independent means for causingan immediate rengagement of the drum with the valve-controllingmechanism as soon as the drum begins to rotate in the reverse directionto Athat in which it wasrro- 95 tating when it was disengaged from thevalvecontrolling mechanism.

My invention also consists in the features of construction andcombination of parts, as described in the speciiication, pointed out inthe claims, and illustrated in the drawings.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of a towing-machineembodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same, on anenlarged scale, with part broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan, on a largerscale, of the valve-controlling mechanism in its operative position.Fig. 4 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5,Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of the valve-controlling mechanism inits inoperative position. Figs. 7 and 8 show diiferent positions of thevalve-controlling mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 9 is a section online 9 9, Fig. 4.

Again referring to the drawings, l represents the base and frame of thetowing-machine, which is of the usual construction and similar to theordinary type of hoisting-machines, comprising a double-cylinder engine2, which is operatively connected with acrankshaft 3 in the usualmanner. A drum 4, which carries the tow-rope 5, is supported on a shaft6, mounted in suitable bearings 7 in the said frame 1. A gear-wheel 8 isrigidly mounted on the shaft 6 and is arranged to mesh with a pinion 9,secured on the crank-shaft 3. A brake-wheel 10 is also secured on theshaft 6. A brake-band 11 is arranged on the said brakewheel 10 and isoperatively connected with a band-tightener 12 of the usual constructionadapted to be operated by hand. This brake is designed to be used onlyin case of emerg'ency and is commonly provided on all towing-machines.Between the steam-supply (not shownland the cylinder of the engine 2 isarranged a throttle-val ve 14 of the ordinary balanced-piston type,which is connected with the steam-supply by a pipe 15 and with thecylinders of the engine by pipes 16. A rock-shaft 18 is mounted on thebase 1, and on the inner end thereof is rigidly secured a crank-arm 19,which isoperatively connected with the piston-stem 2O of thethrottle-valve 14 by a crankpin 21. On the outer end of the rock-shaft18 is secured a lever 22. It will readily be understood that by throwingthe lever either by hand or by the mechanism hereinafterdescribed in onedirection or the other the shaft 18 will be rocked, so as to either openor close the throttle-valve 14, and thereby control the operation of theengine 2.

The automatic valve-controlling mechanism is mounted and arranged asfollows: One end of the drum-shaft 6 is reduced in size after it passesthrough the bearing 7, as at 24. On the side of the frame 1 is bolted aquadrantshaped plate 25, and at the edge of the said plate 25 are formednotches 26 and 27, respectively, and a stop-forming shoulder 28. A pin29 is secured in the frame 1 and is arranged to project a distance fromthe face of said plate 25. An arm 30 is rotatably supported at one endon said pin 29; A springcontrolled latch 31 is mounted on the arm 30,and the end of said latch 31 is arranged to enter the notches 26 and 27in the plate 25, so as to hold the arm 30 in its up or operativeposition or in its down or inoperative position, as will hereinafterappear. On a bolt 32, secured on the arm 30, is rotatably mounted atoothed wheel 33, and on the end of the shaft 24 is secured a singletoothed pinion 34, and the arrangement is such that when the arm 30 israised up and the latch 31 secured in the notch 26 the pinion 34 willmesh with the teeth of the wheel 33. Therefore if the drum 4 is rotatedtoward the left by the unwinding of the tow-line the toothed wheel 33will be turned to the right, and if the drum is turned to the right towind in the tow-line the toothed wheel 33 will be turned to the left.Two guides 39 and 40 are supported on the end of the pin 29, and a pin42 is also provided for holding the said guides rigid. On the pin 29between the guides 39 and 40 is mounted a roller 43. A link or bar 44 ispivotally secured at one end to the lever 22, and its other or free endis enlarged and extends between the guides 39 and 40 and alongside ofthe toothed wheel 33 and rests on the roller 43. rIhe lower edge of thefree end of the said link 44 is preferably cam-shaped, and thereon areformed twoshoulders 46 and 47, respectively. On the inner side of thefree end of the link44 is secured aplate 48, which is separated a shortdistance therefrom by a ange 49, so that the said plate 48 is closer tothe wheel 33 than the free end of said link 44. On the lower edge of theplate 48 are formed two shoulders 51 and 52, respectively. A long pin 36is mounted on the toothed wheel 33, so as to extend out and come incontact with the lower edge of the free end of the link 44 when thewheel 33 is rotated, and the arrangement is such that when there is anordinary load on the tow-line and the throttlevalve is from one-half totwo-thirds open the link 44 will be resting on the roller 43 and theenlarged end thereof will be in such position that the shoulders 46 and47 thereon will be just over the bolt 32, on which the wheel 33 ismounted, and the long pin 36 will liebetween the said shoulders 46 and47, so as to be capable of engaging either the shoulder 46 or theshoulder 47, according to the direction in which the wheel 33 isrotated. short pins 37 are also mounted on the wheel 33 and projectasuflicient distance to come in contact with the lower edgel of theplate 48 and the shoulders 51 and 52 thereon, but are not long enough tocome into contact with the shoulders 46 and 47 on the link 44, and thearrangement is such that the said short pins 37 will only come incontact with the edge of the Vplate 48 when the pin 36 is no longer incontact with the lower edge of the link 44, and the said pins 37 willthen be able to engage either the shoulder 5l or the shoulder 52, ac-

A series of IOO IIO

cording as the link 44 was moved either to open or close thethrottle-valve 14 before the pin 36 was disengaged from said link 44.

The operation of a towingfmachineprovided with this invention is asfollows: When the tow is being picked up, the proper length of line ispaid out by operating the lever 22 by hand, and in order to do this thelatch 31 is disengaged from the notch 26 in the plate 25, and the arm 30is lowered, thereby disengaging the wheel 33 tromthe pinion 34, and theend of the latch 3l is caused to enter the notch 27, locking the arm 30in its lower position. When the right length of line has been paid out,the arm 30 is raised, bringing the wheel 33 into mesh with the pinion34, and the end of the latch 31 is caused to enter the notch 26.Sufficient pressure is maintained at the source of supply to sustain theload under the usual conditions with the valve from one-half totwo-thirds open, and the pin 36, as we have said, will be in a verticalline with the center of rotation of the wheel 33 and between theshoulders 46 and 47. Now if owing to the `force o't' the Winds or wavesthe load on the tow-line is increased the line will pay out, therebyrotating the cable-drum to the left,

which will in turn rotate the wheel 33 to the lever 22 and the mechanismwhich connects it with the throttle-valve, thereby opening thethrottle-valve and allowing a greater quantity oi' steam into thecylinders of the engine, so as to counteract the increased strain on thetow-line, and again, if for some reason the strain on the tow-line islessened, the drum will rotate to the right, winding in the cable, andwill thereby rotate the wheel 33 to the left, and the long pin thereonwill engage the shoulder 46 and draw the link 44 to the left, therebyclosing the throttle-valve. Thus in the ordinary course of towing thewheel 33 will rotate back and forth in certain prescribed limits; but incase the tow runs aground and the towing' vesselkeeps moving the linewill of course be paid out and the wheel 33 will be rotated, bringingthe pin into engagement with the shoulder 47, andthe link will be movedback, opening the throttlevalve to its fullest extent, and as the wheelcontinues to rotate the pin 36 will be disengag'ed from the shoulder 47and the drum will continue to rotate, so as to pay out the towline aslong as the abnormal strain continues. Now as soon as the long pinceases to be in contact with the lower edge of the link 44 the said link44 will move down, bringing the lower edge of the plate 48 in contactwith the short pin 37, and as long as the wheel 33 continues to rotatein the same direction the said short pins will pass the shoulders 50 and5l without causing any movement of the link 44; butif the abnormalstrain ceases the wheel 33 will begin to rotate in the oppositedirection and the said pins 37 will immediately engage with the shoulder50 on the said plate 48, which will cause a movement of the link 44adapted to partially close the throttle-valve, so that the engine willmove slowly until the large pin 36 is again brought into its operativeposition between the shoulders 46 and 47 What I claim isl. Thecombination with a towing-machine having a valve, Valve-controllingmechanism, means for forming an operative connection between the drum ofthe towing-machine and the valve-controlling mechanism while said drumis being rotated a predetermined number of times in either direction andmeans for disengaging said drum from the valve-controlling mechanism assoon as said drum exceeds said predetermined number of rotations; ofmeans for causing an immediate rengagement of the drum with thevalve-controlling mechanism as soon as the drum begins to rotate in thereverse direction to that in which it was rotating when it wasdisengaged from.

the valve-controlling mechanism, which said means is independent of thefirst-mentioned means for forming an operative connection between thedrum and the valve-controlling mechanism.

2. In a towing-machine, the combination with an engine, a drumoperatively connected with said engine, a valve, mechanism for operatingsaid valve, a link secured to said valveoperating mechanism, meansoperatively connected with said drum and arranged to engage with saidlink while the drumis being rotated a predetermined amount in eitherdirection and means for causing a disengagement of said means from saidlink when the rotation of said drum exceeds the predetermined amount; ofindependent means arranged to immediately re'engage said link, as soonas said drum begins to rotate in the direction opposite to that in whichit was rotating when the first-mentioned means was disengaged from saidlink. e

3. In a towing-machine, the combination with an engine, a drumoperatively connected with said engine, a valve, valve-,operatingmechanism, a link secured at one end to said valve-operating mechanism',a wheel operatively connected with said drum, means arranged on saidwheel for engaging with said link while the wheel is being rotated apredetermined amount in either direction, and means for causing adisengagement of said means from said link when the rotation of saidwheel exceeds the predetermined amount;

Yof independent means for causing an immediate rengagement of said wheeland said link, as soon as said wheel begins to rotate in the directionopposite to that in which it was rotating when the first-mentioned meanswas disengaged from said link.

4. In a towing-machine, the combination lIO with an engine, a drumoperatively connected with said engine, a valve, valve operatingmechanism, a link operatively connected at one end to saidvalve-operating mechanism, a wheel operatively connected with said drum,means for causing an engagement between said wheel and said link whenthe tow-line is under normal strain and means for causing adisengagement of said means when the strain on the tow-line becomesabnormal; of independent means i'or causing a rengagement of the wheeland the link as soon as the abnormal strain ceases to exist.

5. In a towing-machine, the combination with an engine, a drumoperatively connected with said engine, a valve, valve operatingmechanism, a link operatively connected to said valve-operatingmechanism and provided with two pairs of shoulders, a wheel operativelyconnected with said drum, pins arranged on said wheel and thearrangement oi' the pins is such that one of said pins will engage withone pair of shoulders when the strain on the tow-line is normal and theother pins will engage with the other pair of shoulders only after anabnormal strain has been on the tow-line and has ceased to exist.

6. In a towing-machine, the combination of an engine, a drum operativelyconnected with said engine, a valve, valve-operating mechanism, a linkoperatively connected at one end to said valve-operating mechanism,awheel, means for operatively connecting said wheel and said drum, meansfor throwing said wheel out of connection with said drum, means forcausing an engagement between said wheel and said link when the tow-lineis under normal strain, means for causing a disengagement of said meanswhen the strain on the tow-line becomes abnormal, and means for causinga re'engagement of said wheel and the link as soon as the abnormalstrain ceases to exist.

7. In a towing-machine the combination of an engine, a drum operativelyconnected with said engine, a valve, valve-operating mechanism, a linkoperatively connected to said valvecontrolling mechanism and providedwith two pairs of shoulders, said pairs of shoulders being arranged indifferent vertical and hori- Zontal planes, a wheel operativelyconnected with said drum, pins arranged on said wheel and thearrangement oi' the pins is such that one of said pins will engage withone pair of the shoulders when the strain on the tow-line is normal andthe other pins will engage with the other pair of shoulders only afteran abnormal strain has been on the tow-line and has ceased to exist.

8. The combination with a towing-machine of a valve, means forautomatically controlling the operation of said valve while thetowing-machine is operating under normal conditions, means forautomatically disconnecting the valve-controlling means from thetowing-machine when the towing-machine begins to operate under abnormalconditions and means for automatically connecting the valvecontrollingmeans and the towing-machine as soon as the abnormal conditions cease toexist, which said last-mentioned means can only operate after thedisconnecting means has been caused to operate through the machineoperating under abnormalk conditions.

9. In a towing-machine the combination of an engine, a drum operativelyconnected with said engine, a valve, valve-operating mechanism, a linkoperatively connected to said valveoperating mechanism and provided withtwo pairs of shoulders` said pairs of shoulders being arranged indifferent vertical and horizontal planes, a pinion secured on the end ofthe drum-shaft, an arm pivotally supported near said pinion, a wheelrotatably mounted on said arm and arranged to mesh with said pinion whenthe said arm is raised to its operative position, means for locking saidarm in its operative position, a long pin arranged on said arm andadapted to engage with the shoulders farthest from said wheel, and ashort pin arranged on said wheel and adapted to engage with theshoulders nearest the wheel.

10. In atowing-machine,the combination of an engine, a drum operativelyconnected with said engine, a valve, valve-operating mechanism, a linkoperatively connected to said valveoperating mechanism and provided withtwo pairs of shoulders said pairs of shoulders being arranged indifferent vertical and hori- Zontal planes, a pinion secured on the endof the drum-shaft, an arm movably supported near said pinion, a wheelrotatably mounted on said arm and arranged to mesh with said pinion whenthe said arm is raised to its operative position, means for locking saidarm in its operative position, and means arranged on said wheel forengaging with both of said pairs of shoulders, and the said means is soarranged that it will engage with only one of the said pair of shouldersat one time.

In testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification, in the presenceof two witnesses, this 21st day of September, 1904, at Cleveland,

Ohio.

EDMUND DALGLEISH.

Witnesses:

VICTOR C. LYNCH, G. M. HAYES.

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